Tuesday, January 11, 2011

All truth is an achievement. If you would have truth at its full value, go win it. —Munger

Truth can seem so elusive. Yet, at times it is so simple and obvious. In entering this program, many of us thought of ourselves as honest men. Some of us couldn't bear the anguish of our dishonesty. As we repeatedly face ourselves, take our personal inventories, and hold ourselves accountable, we realize we have all grown in our honesty. What seemed honest before now looks like half-truth. It was the best we could do at the time. Our perception of truth has deepened by the grace of God and as a result of our hard work.

Truth is won when we have the courage to feel the pain of knowing it. Some of our pain has been the grief of realizing what we missed or lost in our insanity. Some has been the anguish of facing the harm we caused the ones we love, and some in admitting honestly how we ourselves were hurt.

Truth does make me free. The richness in my life is a generous reward for courage.

Remember always that you have not only the right to be individual, you have an obligation to be one. --Eleamnor Roosevelt

When we were using alcohol and other drugs, we often thought that we were different from others. We secretly thought that no one could understand us. Maybe we tried to be one of the group, but we were lonely. Now we know for sure--we are different from others. Everyone's unique. We all have this in common. Being like others helps us feel safe and normal. But we need to feel good about the ways we're different from others too. We think a little different, act a little different, and look a little different from anyone else. We each have our own way to make life better for others.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me be an individual. Help me use my special gifts, not hide them.

Action for the Day: Today, I'll make a list of the things I'm good at. I'll think about how I can use these gifts.

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One Day At A Time

FellowshipWe need each other's experience, strength, and hope,regardless of age or length of sobriety.The saving grace of God doesn't come like a bolt out of the blue.It comes through, in, and from other suffering, as well as rescued,souls like you and me. - Came To Believe . . ., p. 94

You do not grow old simply by living a certain number of years. You grow old only when you stop filling those years with new substance and value.

Don't spend all your time and energy merely confirming again and again what you already know. That will make you too old too soon.

Instead, put your effort and energy into learning, discovering and experiencing what you do not yet know. That will keep your life young, fresh and vibrant, even as the years continue to progress.

There are all kinds of new things you can learn today. There are all sorts of great ways to challenge your assumptions and increase your wisdom.

If you think you know it all, you're cheating yourself out of the opportunity to continually build upon your knowledge. If you refuse to challenge your beliefs, those beliefs will begin to imprison you rather than support you.

Treasure the knowledge you possess and all the rich experiences you've had. Then get up, get out there and get a whole lot more.

In the BLGTQI community we focus a lot on our outer appearance. How’s my hair? How do I look in this outfit? Does my make-up look good? I’m I too thin, or too fat? We can spend hours at the gym working out without any hesitation. But when it comes to working on our inner being, our soul, we tend to avoid it like the black plague. Many of us don’t even know where to begin.

My hope is that this post will help you figure out how to begin your “Work-In” program. Yes, just like a workout program at the gym.